CLEANING

is one of the few requiring that customers wear them in all stores. It hands out masks at store entrances. American Eagle’s lingerie chain Aerie also has the same safety protocols in place. But having store workers enforce social distancing can be difficult, particularly when dealing with shoppers who don’t want to wear masks.

Stores are also opening fitting rooms, which are crucial for many clothing shoppers but are also closely packed spaces where people could potentially infect each other. Even chains that initially closed dressing rooms, like

Gap, J.C. Penney and Kohl’s, are now reopening them. The stores say they will remove clothing that’s tried on from the sales floor for a few days. American Eagle is steam cleaning the rejected clothes.

Social distancing, masks, constant disinfecting and well-ventilated indoor spaces are all important, said Lawrence Gostin, a public health expert at Georgetown University. He recommends keeping fitting rooms closed until a later phase in the reopening and believes clothes themselves are not a likely source of infection.

Workers’ top safety concern is that customers won’t wear masks, said Stuart Applebaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department

Store union that represents roughly 6,300 New York-area Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s employees.

One Macy’s worker in New York was apprehensive about returning to work in late June, but said he feels safe.

“You have to create an environment of safety for us and the customers,” said Steve Ward, 58, who works in the mattress area. “Before, our focus was just selling.

He sprays the mattress with disinfectant in front of customers before and after they try it out.